The Charters Towers Country Music Festival is one of Australia’s largest country music festivals. Established in 1978, the festival has grown significantly over the years and has been instrumental in launching the careers of artists like Samantha McClymont and Brendon Walmsley.
We visited the festival in 2012 in a former incarnation of Festival Australia, we have included a phot essay video one of the Grand Final of the Junior Competition below.
The festival is held on the May Day long weekend at the Charters Towers Showgrounds. It features a variety of events including market stalls, guest artists, and a talent search that attracts incredible talent from all over Australia. The festival is known for its mix of amateur and professional acts. The festival holds an annual song writing competition, a Prince and Princess competition.
Camping is available for the festival at the Charters Towers Showgrounds. All camping tickets include a Weekend Pass to the Festival, which gives the purchaser full access to all sessions over the weekend.
The Charters Towers Country Music Festival has seen a variety of artists perform over the years including: Buddy Weston, Buck Taylor, Brendon Walmsley, Sera Jane Moore, Adi Burgess, Samantha McClymont, Victoria Baillie, Tommy Contor, Judah Kelly, Sammy White, Leyon Milner, Tayla Clavarino, and Southern Comfort
For more detailed information, you can visit the official Charters Towers Country Music Festival website or the festival Facebook page.
About Chartres Towers
Charters Towers is a historic town located in northeastern Queensland, Australia. It was founded in the 1870s following the discovery of gold at Towers Hill on Christmas Eve in 1871. The subsequent gold rush period between 1872 and 1899 led to a population boom, making it Queensland’s largest city outside of Brisbane, with around 30,000 residents during its peak. The town saw significant development during this time, with numerous buildings and infrastructure constructed.
Mining was the primary industry, with over 200 tonnes of gold extracted until 1917, when gold mining became uneconomical. The town then went through a period of stagnation until gold mining resumed in 2006. Other industries now include beef production and education, with several boarding schools attracting rural students.
Charters Towers has a tropical climate, with a hot, wet season from November to March and a warm, dry season from April to October. The town is known for its annual Goldfield Ashes cricket carnival, one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, held every Australia Day weekend.
Tourist attractions in Charters Towers include:
Zara Clark Museum: Offers insights into the gold rush era and the lives of miners.
Towers Hill: A historical site with old mining infrastructure and great views of the town.
Charters Towers National Heritage Park: A World Heritage-listed park with historical mine sites and old buildings.
Charters Towers Goldfield Experience: Provides interactive displays to learn about the history of gold mining and panning in the area.
Queensland Pioneer Association Museum: Contains interesting artifacts from the region’s past.
Charters Towers Visitor Information Centre: Offers advice and information about the town.
These attractions provide tourists with a glimpse into Charters Towers’ rich history and gold mining heritage, making it a fascinating destination in Queensland[
